Peak season of toxic algae in the USA: what you need to know about this deadly threat, and how to protect yourself
The toxic algae bloom season has begun in the United States. They not only give the water a green color, but also pose a mortal danger. ForumDaily decided to find out which states are at greatest risk and what you need to know about toxic algae.
Earlier it became known that the whole family died due to the negative effects of toxic algae fumes... The father, mother, their one-year-old daughter, and their dog were found dead near the Merced River in an area known as California's Devil's Pass.
Mariposa County Public Information Officer Christy Mitchell said the cause could be related to a hazardous environment. Probably in the place where the family was found, toxic algae and carbon monoxide appeared.
Five Things to Know About Toxic Algae
This is not actually algae. Unlike common lower aquatic plants, toxic algae are actually microscopic cyanobacteria that contain chlorophyll similar to real algae. They multiply rapidly, like algae during flowering. Usually microscopic cyanobacteria are found on or near the surface of water. They produce toxins known as harmful algal blooms. Microscopic cyanobacteria are believed to represent the earliest known life on Earth. Tampa Bay Times.
They can appear in both fresh and salt water. They were found in both salt water and fresh water. What's more, a study by the US Geological Survey found that when algae from Lake Okeechobee moved across the St. Lucy River into the Atlantic Ocean, salt water damaged cell walls and released toxins.
These toxins are harmful to humans. The Department of Health recommends staying away from algal blooms: “In large quantities, cyanobacterial toxins can damage the liver, nervous system and skin. Swallowing untreated water can cause abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Some people who are sensitive to algae are likely to have a rash or respiratory irritation. There may be long-term consequences of exposure. Scientists at the University of Miami have found that dolphins exposed to blue-green algae toxins experience degenerative brain damage similar to Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's and Parkinson's in humans.
On the subject: Causes paralysis and even death: poisonous algae infect US seafood
The blooms are not new, but their frequency has changed. When the first blooms covered huge areas, the media were full of headlines about the "death" of reservoirs. Over time, the area and flowering time began to increase even more. Some politicians have used bloom in their campaigns. In 2014, the Third National Climate Assessment predicted that changing long-term weather patterns would lead to an increase in toxic algae.
We can control the "fuel" for flowering. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, nutrient pollution from agricultural and urban wastewater, as well as leaking septic tanks and sewer networks, are responsible for the bloom of most freshwater cyanobacteria. Other conditions conducive to flowering are stagnant water due to lack of natural washout and land clearing that allows more polluted runoff to be washed into waterways. Climate change, leading to higher ocean temperatures, is also a factor in salt water bloom, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. If the conditions that stimulate the growth of cyanobacteria change (for example, the water cools down or the supply of nutrients stops), the bloom may disappear.
Where toxic algae are found
Over the past 4 years, algae have been reported in at least 19 states. Pets are most often affected, writes Dogington Post.
This list includes:
- Texas
- Minnesota
- Oregon
- Vermont
- North Carolina
- Georgia
- Oklahoma
- Idaho
- Ohio
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Южная Каролина
- Rhode Island
- California
- Florida
- Minnesota
- Maine
Where to track algal blooms
Every state has a resource that has information on toxic algae blooms.
Alabama
- Alabama Department of Environmental Management, ADEM / ADPH Coastal Alabama Beach Monitoring Program
Alaska
Arizona
Арканзас
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Online Harmful Algae Bloom Complaint Reporting Form
- Arkansas Water Resources Center, Algal Blooms in Arkansas Streams, Ponds, and Lakes (PDF)
California
- California hab portal
- California Department of Public Health, Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) Blooms
- California CyanoHAB Network (CCHAB)
- California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Cyanotoxins in Recreational Waters
Colorado
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife Water Conditions Statewide
- Colorado Lake and Reservoir Management Association Guidance Document for Harmful Algal Blooms in Colorado
- Toxic algae - Department of Public Health and Environment - (colorado.gov)
Connecticut
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Blue-Green Algae Blooms
- Connecticut Department of Public Health Section, Blue-Green Algae Blooms
- Interim guidance to Local Health Departments For Blue – Green Algae Blooms in Recreational Freshwaters
Delaware
- Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Water: What is a Red Tide?
- Delaware Health and Human Services Frequently Asked Questions: Cyanobacteria
You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York
Columbia region
Florida
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Blue-Green Algae Information
- Florida Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health, Aquatic Toxins Program
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
- Florida Department of Health: Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
Georgia
- Georgia Department of Public Health, Coastal Health District, Harmful Algal Bloom
- Coastal Health District: Frequently Asked Questions About Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) and Their Toxins
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Harmful Algal Blooms
Hawaii
- Hawaii State Department of Health Disease Outbreak Control Division: Stinging Seaweed Disease (Lyngbya)
- Hawaii State Department of Health Disease Investigation Branch: Ciguatera Fish Poisoning
Idaho
- Idaho Department of Environmental Quality HABs Advisories
- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare: Harmful Algal Blooms
Illinois
- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Algal Toxins
- Illinois Department of Public Health Harmful Algal Blooms (HABS)
- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency: Reporting a Harmful Algal Bloom
Indiana
- Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Addressing concerns about Blue-green Algae
- Indiana Department of Environmental Management: Blue-Green Algae Sampling Resource List
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
- Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection: Division of Water: Harmful Algal Blooms
- Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Harmful Algal Blooms, Division of Water
Louisiana
- Louisiana Department of Health, Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology
- Louisiana Department of Health Office of Public Health
- Louisiana Department of Health Safe Drinking Water Program
Maine
- Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Algal Toxins
- Maine Department of Marine Resources: Red Tide in Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
- Minnesota Department of Health Blue-Green Algal Blooms and Microcystin
- Minnesota Department of Health Harmful Algal Blooms Fact Sheet
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Blue-green Algae and Harmful Algal Blooms
Mississippi
Missouri
- Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: Bue-Green Algae Brochure
- Missouri Department of Health and Human Services, Recreational Water Safety
- Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Harmful Algal Blooms and Blue-Green Algae
Montana
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services: Public Health & Safety: Harmful Algal Blooms
Nebraska
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality: Fact Sheet: Precautions and facts regarding toxic algae at Nebraska Lakes
- Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality: Beach Watch HABs
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
- New Jersey Center for Water Science and Technology
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Harmful Algal Blooms website
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, HABs in Drinking Water Supply
- Freshwater Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms Response Strategy (PDF)
- Freshwater Cyanobacterial HAB Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Freshwater CyanoHABs and CyanoToxins: Recreational Exposure and Health Effects Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Freshwater Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms Online Reporting Form
- Marine Harmful Algal Blooms Fact Sheet (PDF)
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Blue-Green Algae
- North Carolina Environmental Quality, Algal Blooms
North Dakota
On the subject: Florida is threatened by toxic algae: they kill fish and are dangerous to people
Ohio
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency: Algal Toxin Analysis Options
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency: Algae Information for Public Water Systems
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency: Algae Information for Recreational Water
Oklahoma
Oregon
- Oregon Health Authority: Blue-Green Algae Labs and Expert Contacts List
- Oregon Health Authority, Harmful Algal Bloom Surveillance Program
- Oregon Health Authority Algae Resources
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Department of Health, Harmful Algal Blooms
- Erie County Department of Health, Pennsylvania, HABs Map
Rhode Island
Южная Каролина
- Cyanobacteria: Understanding Blue-Green Algae's Impact on Our Shared Waterways, South Carolina Waterways, Clemson University
- South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Harmful Algal Blooms
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
- Utah Department of Environmental Quality HABs
- Utah Department of Health: Blue-Green Algae
- Chemtech Ford Laboratories
Vermont
- Vermont Department of Health, Cyanobacteria, Blue-Green Algae in Lake Champlain
- Vermont Department of Health Veterinarian Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Water Quality Division, Cyanobacteria toxins
- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Drinking Water & Ground Protection Division, Public Drinking Water System - Cyanobacteria monitoring
Virginia
Washington
- Washington State Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health, Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae)
- Washington State Toxic Algae, Freshwater Algae Bloom Monitoring Program
West Virginia
- West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Information on Cyanobacterial Blooms (Blue-green Algae Blooms) or Harmful Algae Blooms
- West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Harmful Algal Bloom Response Plan for Recreational Waters (PDF)
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Blue-Green Algae
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Blue-Green Algae website
- Public Health Madison-Dane County Beaches
Wyoming
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